Geranium plant named ‘Maestro Salmon’

ABSTRACT

‘Maestro Salmon’ is a new variety of  geranium  having dark leaves, free flowering, and pale salmon colored flowers.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Varietal denomination: ‘Maestro Salmon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium×hortorum known by the varietal name ‘Maestro Salmon’. The new variety was discovered in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a result of cross breeding Seedling #1509 (female parent) (unpatented) and ‘Americana Light Salmon’ (male parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,936). The purpose of the breeding program was to introduce a compact and dark-leaved zonal geranium. The new variety has a paler flower color than its female parent. The new variety exhibits similar flower color to its male parent, but has a more compact habit. ‘Maestro Salmon’ is also more free flowering with a compact habit and exhibits excellent greenhouse and outdoor performance when compared to other varieties known to the breeder. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by cuttings in Connellsville, Pa. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The new variety was grown in a glass greenhouse in a 4″ pot in Connellsville, Pa. using full light, 16° C. night temperature and 20° C. day temperature and grown in a soilless media with constant fertilizer at 200-250 ppm nitrogen and potassium. The new variety exhibits developed roots at 21 days at an average temperature of 23° C. and has a response time of six to seven weeks from a rooted cutting to flowering in a 10 cm. container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected by asexual reproductions carried out in Connellsville, Pa. The color readings were taken indoors under 200-220 foot candles of cool white fluorescent light. The new variety was eight weeks from a rooted cutting when described. Color references are primarily to the 1966 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Market class: Zonal. -   Time to initiate roots (days, temperature): About 7-10 days at about     23° C. -   Time to develop roots (days, temperature): About 21 days at about     23° C. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 6-7 weeks in a 10 cm. container. -   Rooting habit: Good, normal. -   Form: Round-mounded. -   Height from media surface to top of foliage: 13.0-14.9 cm. -   Height from media surface to top of flowers: 21.5-24.5 cm. -   Plant diameter: 25.0-26.0 cm. -   Strength: No artificial support is needed. -   Branching habit: Free branching. -   Stem:     -   -   Main stem length.—10.3-10.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7-0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Texture.—Leathery texture.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Internode length.—3-3.5 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Primary: 10.7-11.5 cm. Secondary: Plant is too young             to measure.         -   Diameter.—Primary: 0.6-0.7 cm. Secondary: Plant is too young             to measure.         -   Internode length.—2.3-3.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Leathery.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; opposite.         -   Stipules.—Size: 1.2 cm. high by 0.8 cm. wide. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Zone.—Location: Faint zone from outer edge of leaf to ½ of             the way toward the center. Color: Green Group 137B.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 5.2-7.3 cm. Width: 6.2-9.0 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Reniform with a stalked base.         -   Shape of apex.—Rounded in accordance with reniform leaf             shape.         -   Shape of base.—Cordate.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Aspect.—Leaves have a very slight slope increasing from             point of connection toward the margin.         -   Margin type.—Crenate.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface: Moderate. Lower surface:             Moderate.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green Group 137B. Lower             surface: Green Group 138B. Mature leaves: Upper surface:             Green Group 137A. Lower surface: Green Group 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 5.1-7.1 cm. Diameter: 2.0-2.5 mm. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Veins.—Venation type: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group 138A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 145A.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Bud:     -   -   Stage of development when bud characteristics             determined.—Bud shows color at side but sepals are not             parting at the tips.         -   Shape of cluster.—Elliptical.         -   Diameter of cluster.—2.0-2.9 cm.         -   Number of buds per cluster.—9-16.         -   Shape of individual bud.—Ellipse.         -   Length of individual bud.—0.8-0.9 cm.         -   Width of individual bud.—0.5-0.6 cm. -   Natural flowering season at specified location(s): Year round     horticultural greenhouse crop. -   Blooming habit: Continuous and free flowering. -   Umbel diameter: 8.3-9.5 cm. -   Umbel depth: 5.5-6.1 cm. -   Borne: Umbel, flowers on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle. -   Inflorescence position: Above foliage. -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch: 1-2. -   Lastingness of an individual flower: 10-14 days. -   Florets:     -   -   Form.—Flat and slightly cupped. As flowers mature, the             florets gradually become more open/flat.         -   Number per umbel.—11-23.         -   Diameter.—3.8-4.5 cm.         -   Depth.—1.8-2.2 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Color.—The top two petals of the floret have a lighter             coloration than the bottom petals.         -   Upper surface.—The top two or three petals are Red Group 56C             with Red Group 48D speckling and venation, which is more             pronounced towards the margin. The bottom third has a Red             Group 48C band with Red Group 43C stripes on the far ends of             the band. As these two stripes approach each other at the             base of the petal, they form a “V”. The point of connection             then immediately fades to a White Group 155D. The bottom             petals are Red Group 56C and have heavy Red Group 41C             streaking, specks, and venation. On the bottom ⅓ of the             petal there is a pronounced Red Group 41C “V” or “W”. The             point of connection then immediately fades to a White Group             155D.         -   Lower surface.—All petals are Red Group 56C with light Red             Group 48C speckling and venation. The deepest color is a             fine line on the margin. The connection point is White Group             155D. The top two or three petals have a more pronounced             coloring on the bottom ⅓ margin as compared to the bottom             petals.         -   Shape.—Inverted teardrop.         -   Length.—2.1-2.5 cm.         -   Width.—1.6-2.3 cm.         -   Apex shape.—Smooth and rounded.         -   Base shape.—Tapered to a point.         -   Margin.—Entire; smooth.         -   Number per floret.—6-13.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Tonality from a distance.—Rich salmon orange flowers atop             mounding medium-dark green foliage. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—0-2 per floret.         -   Shape.—Splits in a two-pronged unit or are tubular.         -   Color (Upper and lower surface).—Tubular petals have an             inner and outer surface of Red Group 38C and fade to White             Group 155D near the point where it connects to the pedicel.             Split florets have an upper surface Red Group 38A and fade             to White Group 155D at connection point. The undersides are             Red Group 36C and fade to White Group 155D.         -   Length.—1.1-1.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.2-0.6 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—2.1-2.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.13-0.15 mm.         -   Color.—Greyed-Purple Group 185A where the pedicel connects             to the floret and fades to Yellow-Green Group 144A as the             pedicel approaches the point where it connects to the             peduncle. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—10.1-11.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.25-0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—A slightly rough leather texture with a slight to             moderate amount of pubescence.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Width.—0.2-0.4 cm.         -   Length.—0.8-1.0 cm. -   Fragrance: No unusual fragrance. -   Disease resistance: None observed. -   Temperature tolerance: None observed. -   Drought tolerance: None observed.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—8-13.         -   Filament.—Length: 0.3-0.7 cm. Color: White Group 155D with             the tip being Red-Purple Group 66A.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Oval-like with a slight curve. Length:             0.15-0.2 cm. Color: Grey-Purple Group 184A.         -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Orange Group 171A. Amount: Plentiful. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—0.7 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.2 cm. Color: Red Group 45C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Style splits and radiates into 5 parts.             Color: Red Group 45C. Size: 0.1 cm. high.         -   Ovaries.—Position: Superior. Pubescence: Present. Length:             0.4 cm. Width: 0.17-0.2 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B. 

1. A new and distinct variety of geranium plant named ‘Maestro Salmon’ as described and illustrated. 